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George ,
from Upper West Side

Caught the re-broadcast. The young man from Jamaica's name escaped me, but I would like to register my shock. It will come a a great surprise to PORTIA SIMPSON- MILLER that Jamaica 'may have it's first woman prime minister'. now in 2011, especially when Mrs Simpson-Miller was elected in 200!!!!Love your show

I am from Germany, in NYC since 1988 ... of course the euro crisis and Angela Merkel's emergence as a very important politician are in the news ... but what impressed me, was news from my (smallish) hometown where an organisation of NeoNazis had planned a demonstration for x-mas eve (!) against a so-called 'leftist' youth center ... the town mobilized and on x-mas eve, usually a very private day in Germany, 6500 people were ready to tell those thugs to go away ... if I read the hometown paper right, a group of 70-80 punks arrived, did their little demonstration, freedom of speech being protected as it certainly would not be in their 'fantasy land' and then went quickly back on the train ... where as 6500 citizens celebrated x-mas eve in the streets ...Thanks for an always inspiring show, Happy New Year.

In reference to a recent caller who said that the name "Arab Spring" was inappropriate to the events in North Africa and the Middle East because the term "spring" came from Prague '68, I wondered if the caller is aware that the term "Springtime of the Peoples" or "Springtime of the Nations" actually came from the European liberal nationalist revolutions of 1848-49, when various national groups in Europe rose up against their kings, princes, and emperors and demanded the creation of democratic parliaments, civil liberties, and constitutions. These revolts were also accompanied by worker revolts demanding better wages and conditions, as well as peasant revolts responding to high taxes and feudal restrictions of various kinds. Since the European middle class at the time gathered around the idea of a nation based on language, culture, and shared history, plus demanded constitutional rule against absolutist monarchs, I don't think the spring "Arab Spring" is entirely inappropriate.

On 11 April, 2011 bomb explosion on the subway station in the capital of Belarus - Minsk, killed 15 people and wounded hundreds. It was the first time in the history of the country. Two young men were captured soon after. After very quick and doubtful trial, they were convicted of the crime and sentenced to punishment by death. Belarus is the last European country still using capital punishment.

Born in the UK, raised in Jamaica: the resignation of Prime Minister Bruce Golding...some suggest due to his/his party's direct ties to the Coke/Dudus affair...but at minimum stemming from a crisis of (lack of) confidence among the Jamaican people. Golding is succeeded by (Minister of Education) Andrew Holness in November. The successor makes a rookie promise to call elections before year's end. Today the Jamaicans are engaged in national elections. They should have confirmation of the winner by tonight...comfortably before the new year. See Schwartz's recent article in the New Yorker on the Dudus Affair. There are many looming human rights questions still littering the ground....

First of all, thank you for the quality of your show. I am a French citizen, originally North African. I am a little bit afraid of what is called the spring revolution the problem is that this spring is giving birth to a dark and long winter that is taking the same road to what happen in Iran in 80’s.Any way Happy New year to all WNYC listeners

Two underreported events:1 - The state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago, which lasted from August to December, included illegal arrests, imprisonment, and possibly deaths, and has led to the destabilization of this Caribbean country.2 - Misnaming the African Spring as the "Arab Spring" - many of the countries (including the first) to have uprisings are in Africa, and few venues reported the uprising in Senegal which led to the President rescinding some rules that would predetermine his son as his successor, and which improved electricity delivery in the capital.

I am from Canada and I am extremely embarrased by the Tory government slinking out of the polution control commitments that were hammered out merely because it would cost them a few million to fix some controls issues and they didn't want to get fined by the international courts for non-compliance. It was a cowardly act and it made me sick !!!

The most under reported as in Time magazine of 13 Tibetans self immolation to express dissatisfaction with the Chinese Govt. Dalai Lama devolving the political power which is historic in modern time history where leaders vibe for power. Elected a harvard graducated Tibetan as the prime minister of exile govt. or head of exile Tibetan administration. immolation as the last resort to sacrifice for the sake of Tibet and the Tibetans. What else can you do?

I think that boring enough and unfortunately I would have to say that the IMF intervetion to help "heal" Portuguese economy is the top story of 2011. It's not only all over the media but it really invaded people's everyday lives and it only enhances the general doomsday portuguese take on life... I hope for a mentality change that accompanies a restoring of the economy and most importantly an improvement in people's quality of life but reality seems to tell otherwise. All the best for 2012 and further Brian, thanks a lot for the show!

I AM FROM EL SALVADOR, A PROFESSIONAL, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST WITH A PHD . FOR US SALVADORANS PRESIDENT'S OBAMA'S VISIT TO OUR COUNTRY TO PLEDGE SUPPORT TO NPRESIDENTMAURICIO FUNES WAS THRILLING. I WAS DEEPLY DISSAPOINT THAT WNYC HARDLY SAID A WORD !! THE THOUSANDS OF MY COUNTRYMEN WHO HAVE COME HERE ARE HARD WOKLING AND WE DESERVED MORE COVERAGE

I am now a US citizen, born in South Africa. During this year the South African parliament passed a sweeping law that allows for censorship of media on very ambiguously defined grounds of "national security". This chilling law is widely seen as a bid by the governing ANC (the party of Mandela no less) to block coverage of widespread corruption by government officials.

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